Image/s credit: Kinova.

Kinova Link 6 Cobot

company logo for Kinova Kinova

Country: Canada

Year: 2022

Summary

A fast, six-axis industrial cobot combining a 6 kg full-range continuous payload, integrated force-torque sensing and flexible Kortex control for production automation.

Status: Commercially available

Operation: Semi-autonomous, Collaborative, Tethered

Robot Type / Domain: Multi/General-Purpose, Industrial

Tasks: Machine Tending, Assembly, Inspection & Quality Control, Kitting, Packaging, Welding, Polishing & Sanding

Technical Specifications

Max. Reach: 1149 mm

Max. Reach: 45.236 in

Payload: 6 kg

Payload: 13.228 lbs

Max. Payload: 6 kg

Max. Payload: 13.228 lbs

Pose Repeatability: N/A

Weight: 23.45 kg

Weight: 51.698 lbs

Battery Operated? No, Tethered

Arm Type: Articulated, Collaborative

Number of Axes: 6 DoF

IP Rating: N/A

Mounting: Floor, Ceiling, Wall, Any desired angle

Footprint: 149 mm × 149 mm (length × width)

Footprint: 5.866 in × 5.866 in (length × width)

Operating Temperature: 0 ℃ to 40 ℃

Operating Temperature: 32.000 ℉ to 104.000 ℉

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Speed: 2 m/s Max.

Joint Speeds: Joints 1–3: 180°/s; Joints 4–6: 300°/s

Joint Rotation: ±360° on all six joints

Software: Kinova provides an intuitive visual, no-code programming interface, together with the Kortex API for deeper software integration.

Controller & Computing: Intel Core i7 processor, 8 GB DDR4 RAM and 128 GB SSD storage. Controller weight is 17.6 kg and its enclosure is IP54.

Material: Aluminum, ABS plastic

Power supply: 110-240 VAC, 50 Hz - 60 Hz

Data Transmission / Communication: USB 3.0, Ethernet, general-purpose digital and analogue I/O, redundant safety I/O and Modbus TCP/IP industrial Ethernet support.

Certification: Safety functions rated PLd Category 3, with Kinova citing ISO 13849-1/-2:2015. The technical sheet also states compliance with ISO 10218-1:2011 and applicable EU machinery directives.

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Top 5+ Qualities (by addoobot)

What we find to be the top qualities of the Kinova Link 6 Cobot:

Production-Focused Performance: A 6 kg full-range continuous payload and 2 m/s speed support practical industrial cycle times.
Extended Working Area: Provides 1,149 mm maximum robot reach, with a separately defined 1,000 mm half-dextrous reach.
Integrated Force-Torque Sensor: The six-axis wrist sensor enables smooth hand guiding and supports force-aware assembly processes.
Easy Visual Programming: Operators can build programs through a drag-and-drop interface on the teach pendant or in a browser.
Rich Wrist Connectivity: Integrated power, digital and analogue I/O, and Modbus RTU reduce the need for externally routed tool cables.
Flexible Tool Integration: The ISO-standard flange and supported Robotiq and OnRobot adapters simplify end-effector selection.
Powerful External Controller: An Intel Core i7 processor and containerised plugin environment support demanding integrations without placing application plugins inside the safety core.
Industrial Environmental Protection: IP54 protection is provided for the arm, controller and teach pendant.
Safety-Rated Monitoring: Category 3 PL d safety functions monitor stops, joint limits, speed, protection zones and TCP movement.
Developer-Friendly Platform: Python, C++, fieldbus and newly announced ROS 2 support provide options beyond visual programming.

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Built for Industrial Automation

Link 6 marks a significant change from many of Kinova's earlier robotic arms. While products such as Gen2 and Gen3 grew largely from research, professional and human-centred robotics, Link 6 was designed specifically as an industrial collaborative robot. Kinova launched it in 2022 with pick-and-place, assembly and machine tending among its initial target applications, and the company's current material also lists inspection, kitting, packaging, welding and polishing/sanding.

Its hardware reflects that production focus. The robot combines a 6 kg continuous full-range payload, 1,149 mm reach and 2 m/s Cartesian speed with IP54 protection and flexible mounting in any orientation. An integrated force/torque sensor helps with interaction and force-sensitive applications, while power and I/O at the wrist simplify installation of grippers and other tooling.

Link 6 is therefore better understood as a general-purpose manufacturing cobot than as a lightweight research manipulator. Applications can range from tending CNC machines and assembling small components to inspection, packaging, welding and surface finishing.

Designed to Make Integration Easier

One of Link 6's more distinctive features is the amount of integration functionality Kinova has built around the robot. The controller includes Ethernet, USB, analogue and digital I/O, certified redundant safety I/O and Modbus TCP/IP communication. The wrist also supplies programmable I/O and up to 4 A at 24 V, allowing compatible tools to receive power and signals through the robot rather than requiring extensive external cable routing.

Programming is intended to work at different levels. Operators can use Kinova's visual no-code interface and hand-guiding capabilities for relatively straightforward task teaching, while developers can access Kinova's Kortex API when deeper integration or custom software is required. Kinova continues to maintain a dedicated Link 6 Kortex code/API ecosystem.

The compact controller is also comparatively powerful for an industrial cobot controller, with an Intel Core i7 processor, 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB SSD. An optional Intel RealSense-based vision module provides another route for adding perception directly to a Link 6 system.

Link 6 vs Other Kinova Robot Arms

Link 6 stands apart from Kinova's other main robot arms because it is the company's purpose-built industrial collaborative robot. Its 6 kg payload, 1,149 mm reach, 2 m/s maximum Cartesian speed, IP54 rating, industrial I/O and built-in six-axis force/torque sensor are aimed at production automation rather than primarily laboratory research or assistive use.

A simple way to position Kinova's range is:

Jaco → assistive robotic arm for everyday independence
Gen2 → earlier-generation lightweight professional/research platform
Gen3 lite → compact education and research platform
Gen3 → advanced lightweight research and automation platform
Link 6 → industrial cobot for manufacturing and production automation

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References

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